Blackout hits Philippine

Blackout hits Philippine

MANILA (AFP): A massive power outage hit the densely-populated northern Philippine island of Luzon Saturday, including Metropolitan Manila.

Electricity was disrupted at 3:30 am (1930 GMT) following a technical fault at a power plant in Laguna, south of Manila, a spokesman from the state-run National Power Corporation (Napocor) said.

However, more than six hours later power was restored to about 50 percent of the system, Napocor spokeswoman Josephine Mangila said.

Len Nasario of the Manila Electric Co. (Meralco), the country's main power distributor, said it would take several more hours or until about 0600 GMT before power would be fully restored.

Among the areas up and running again are districts in the heart of Manila and the capital's international airport.